Lubricating system and apparatus.



F. W. VAN NESS.

LUBEIGATING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 2, 1910.

Patented Mar. 5, 1912.

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ATTURNEYE COLUMBIA FLANOORAPH CO.,WASHINGTON, u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

A FRANK W. VAN NESS, MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR T0 FRANK J.

MATCI-IETTE', OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

LUBRICA'IING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. '5, 1912.

Application filed May 2, 1910. Serial No. 558,812.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, F RANK V. VAN Nnss, a citizen of the United States,residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State ofWisconsin, have invented. certain new and useful Improvements inLubricating Systems and Apparatus, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forminga part thereof.

This invention relates to lubricating systems and apparatus therefor,and the object of the invention is to provide a lubricating system andapparatus therefor whereby oil or other fluid lubricant is supplied tothe parts to be lubricated as the result of differences of pressuresexisting at the source or sources of supply of the lubricant and theplace or places of use.

While the lubricating system and apparatus therefor described in thisspecification are capable of use in combination with clifferent kinds ofapparatus, they are of especial utility in combination with air or gaspumping or moving devices and for simplicity of description andclearness of illustration the invention is illustrated and described ascombined with vacuum cleaning apparatus and devices without anyintention, however, of limiting the invention solely to such acombination.

Additional objects of the invention are to provide arrangements ofapparatus whereby the lubricant (hereinafter referred toas oil for thesake of brevity) is supplied as the direct result of the operation ofthe apparatus to be lubricated so that'oil is supplied automaticallywhenever the apparatus is put in operation and the supply of oil stopswhen the apparatus is stopped or is otherwise relieved from duty, toarrange the apparatus, if desired, so that when oil is not beingsupplied from the main source of supply there will be a reserve supplyof oil for some parts of the apparatus, to so arrange the apparatus thatthe flow of oil can be readily controlled and proportioned so thatneither flooding nor drying will occur, to so arrange the apparatus thatoil will be supplied from a reservoir or source of supply to the partsto be lubricated and will same elements wherever they may appear in eachof the several views and which drawings illustrate an embodiment of thisinvention, Figure 1 is a plan view of a vacuum cleaning plant; Fig. 2 isan elevation of the plant looking in the direction of the arrow markeda; Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an elevation of the plant looking in the directionof the arrow marked 6 Fig. 1, the motor being omitted for clearness ofillustration; Fig. 4:

is a vertical section on an enlarged scale of the combined oilreservoir, separator and muffler taken on the line 0-0, Fig. 1, andshows someof the associated parts; and Fig. 5 is a plan view of adetail.

Referring specifically to the drawings,

the reference numeral 1 designates a base upon which the plant ismounted, 2 an electric motor, 3 a vacuum pump connected with and adaptedtobe driven by said motor, 4 a stand pipe through which the air and dirtare drawn, 5 a dirt and dust separator supported by columns 6, 7 aremovable dirt and a dust receptacle, 8 and 9 inlet pipes affordingcommunication between separator 5 and vacuum or exhausting pump 3, 10 anunloading valve, 11 discharge pipe from the pump, 12 a combined oilreservoir, oil separator and mufi ler, 13 exhaust pipe and 14 bypasspipe. The function of unloading valve 10 is to place pipe 9 incommunication with pipe 8 or to cut off such communication and placepipe 9 in communication with by-pass pipe 14 when a suflicient intensityof vacuum is established in separator 5 so as to relieve the load on themotor 2. The vacuum pump 3 is a positive displacement pump of a wellknown, rotary type and has bearings 15 and 16 at its ends which requirelubrication. The pump 3' also requires lubrication 1n lts interior.

The discharge f th communicates with a centrifugal spiral pipe 17extending from bottom closure 160 up into the combined oil reservoir,oil separator and muflier 12 and its open, upper extremity is preferablydisposed in a horizontal plane and has its end cut off at an angleas'clearly shown by Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings. This constructiongives the air and oil, and whatever dirt may be discharged therewith, awhirling motion in separator 12 and causes separation in the well knownmanner. Separation is also assisted because the large volume ofseparator 12 as compared with spiral 17 causes a decreased velocity offlow of the air and furthermore the beveled end of spiral 17 permits areduction of the velocity of flow of the air into the separator frompipe 17 by providing an enlarged area for the expansion and escape ofthe air from spiral 17. The exhaust pipe 13 is larger than inlet pipe 9and discharge pipe 11 so that the periodic discharges of air from thepump 3 are merged as the result of the reservoir action of separator andmuifier 12 causing a steady and comparatively noiseless exhaust throughexhaust pipe 13. The pressure existing in separator 12 is, of course,always as high as atmospheric pressure and the excess pressure existingin separator 12 over the lower pressures which may exist in other partsof the apparatus is utilized to feed the lubricating oil.

The lower part of separator 12 is utilized for an oil receptacle to holda large quantity of oil so that frequent replenishing will not benecessary. A sight tube or oil gage 19 is in communication with theinterior of separator 12 by means of a pipe 20 placed near the bottom ofthe separator and below a downwardly extending partition 22 therein andalso by means of a pipe 21 located above said partition 22. Tube 19 isprovided with a screw cap 23 which may be removed to allow oil to bepoured into the oil reservoir. A pipe 24 leads from reservoir 12 at apoint below partition 22 and preferably closely adjacent to the upperpart thereof, as shown, and from pipe 24 depends pipe 25 from whichpipes 26 and 27 lead to the pump bearings 16 and 15 respectively tosupply said bearings with oil. A pipe 28 extends upwardly from pipe 24,is then bent downwardly and communicates with the interior of inlet pipe9 at a point higher than pipe 24 to prevent siphoning. Valves 29 and 30permit the quantity of oil flowing through pipes 28 and 25 to beregulated and a sight drop oil feed 31 is placed in pipe 28 so that theflow of oil can be readily observed and its quantity adjusted andproportioned by means of valve 29. A well 32 is provided in the bottomof the reservoir 12 to retain heavy particles discharged by the pump asscale from the pump and discharged with the oily air into separator 12.'Such dust will accumulate on the surface of the 011 1n the reservolr asa scum while any heavy particles such as pieces of scale, etc., whichmay find their way into separator 12 will sink through the oil andcollect in well 32.

The function and operation of the system and apparatus illustrated bythe drawings is as follows: The cap 23 is removed and oil poured intothe reservoir until it fills the reservoir to say the line dd, Fig. 4.The cap is then replaced. WVhen the pump 3 is in operation a partialvacuum is created in pipe 9 (except when valve 10 is in its unloadingposition, or the position which cuts off communication between pipes 8and 9 and establishes communication between pipes 9 and 14) and thegreater air pressure existing in separator 12 will force the oil levelinside of partition 22 down and the oil level outside the partition up,the partition 22 having an opening 34 in its bottom. For convenience thespace between partition 22 and the shell of separator and reservoir 12will be termed the oil supply chamber 'and is designated by the numeral35, and

upon the specific gravity of the oil and the difference between the airpressures existing in pipe 9 and separator 12, but'this difference ofpressure is suflicient to raise the oil level in oil supply chamber 35so that the oil will flow out through pipe 24 and will then flow bygravity through pipes 25, 26 and 27 to bearings 15 and 16 of the pump 3.The quantity of oil flowing through pipe 25 is regulated by valve 30 fortwo reasons, first, so as not to supply an unnecessarily large quantityof oil to bearings 15 and 16, and second, so that all the oil whichflows through pipe 24 will not How away by gravity through pipe 25 as itis desirable to, introduce some oil for lubrication into the interior ofthe pump, preferably by mixing oil with the air entering the pumpthrough supply pipe 9. Pipe 28 is made of suflicient length, say 18inches, so that the superior air pressure in reservoir 12 over the airpressure in pipe 9 will raise the oil to the bend at the top of pipe 28so that the the top bend thereof and down into pipe 9. Asa very smallquantity of oil is required for lubricating the interior of the pump,when the oil is mixed with the air as shown and described, valve 29 andsight drop feed 31 make it easy to properly adjust and proportion thesupply.

As the surface of the oil in scum chamber 36, or inside of partition 22,is never intended to go as far down as aperture 34 (except when draincook 33 is opened to drain the oil, etc., from thereservoir), partition22 is in function and eifect a means to strain the oil so that the scumon the top of the oil cannot reach pipe 24 and only clean oil can get tothe bearings and pump.

The lower part of the reservoir 12 is shaped like the frustum of a coneand partition 22 is similarly shaped and parallel therewith and projectsfrom the cylindrical sideof reservoir 12 a short distance above thefrustum-shaped, lower part. The effect of this construction is that thespace within the oil chamber 35 above the line cZ-d, contracts upwardly,while the space in scum chamber 36, or within partition 22, contractsdownwardly, so that only a small excess of oil will fill chamber 35 andonly a small quantity of oil will be necessary within scum chamber 36 toseal the opening 34 at the bottom thereof.

The oil which enters the pump through inlet pipe 9, and the oil whichseeps into the pump from the bearings 15 and 16, is discharged into theseparator 12, where it is separated from the air and is circulated overand over again in a continuous cycle, but it is only circulated when adifference exists between the pressures existing in the separator 12 andthe part of the vacuum system, as for example, pipe 9, with which pipe28 communicates.

It will be readily seen that oil is supplied to the interior of pump 3only when the pump is creating or maintaining a vacuum or partial vacuumin pipe 9 and that when pipes 25, 26 and 27 have once been filled withoil, they contain a reserve supply of oil which will lubricate thebearings 1.5 and 16 of the pump 3, even though the vacuum is broken inpipe 9 by the unloading valve 10, or from some other cause, and the oillevel in oil chamber 35 falls below pipe 24.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a vacuum system of a pump for creating a vacuumtherein, an oil supply chamber the upper part of which is incommunication with the vacuum system, and an oil reservoir which is incommunication with said oil supply chamher and in which reservoir theoil is subjected to a greater pressure than the pres sure which existsin the vacuum system when the pump is in operation.

2. The combination with a vacuum system of a pump for creating a vacuumtherein, an oil supply chamber the upper part of which is closed, an oilreservoir which is in communication with the lower part of said oilsupply chamber, and a pipe extending upwardly from said oil supplychamber and in communication with the vacuum system.

3. The combination with a vacuum system of a pump, provided withbearings, for creating a vacuum therein, an oil supply chamber the upperpart of which is in communication with the vacuum system, an oilreservoir which is in communication with the lower part of said oilsupply chamber and in which reservoir the oil is subjected to a greaterpressure than the pressure which exists in the vacuum system when thepump is in operation, and a pipe leading from the upper part of said oilsupply chamber to supply oil to the bearings of the pump whereby theflow of oil from said oil supply chamber to said pipe is automaticallyestablished whenever a vacuum is created in the vacuum system and isstopped when the vacuum in the system is broken.

4. The combination with a vacuum system of a pump, provided withbearings, for creating a vacuum therein, an oil supply chamber the upperpart of which is in communication with the vacuum system, an oilreservoir which is in communication with the lower part of said oilsupply chamber and in which reservoir the oil is subjected to a greaterpressure than the pressure which exists in the vacuum system when thepump is in operation, and a pipe leading from the upper part of said oilsupply, chamber and I extending downwardly to the pump bearings wherebythe flow of oil from said oil supply chamber to said pipe isautomatically established whenever a vacuum is created in the vacuumsystem and is stopped when the vacuum in the system is broken andwhereby a reserve supply of oil will be retained in said downwardlyextending pipe when the fiow of oil thereinto is stopped.

5. The combination with a vacuum system of a pump for creating a vacuumtherein, an oil supply chamber the upper part of which is closed, an oilreservoir which is in communication with the lower part of said oilsupply chamber and in which reservoir the oil is subjected to a greaterpressure than the pressure which exists in the vacuum system when thepump is in operation, and a pipe extending upwardly from said oil supplychamber and then downwardly and communicating with the vacuum system ata higher point than it communicates with the oil supply chamber.

6. The combination with a vacuum sys tem of a pump for creating a vacuumtherein, an oil reservoir into which said pump exhausts, an oil supplychamber in communication with said oil reservoir at its lower end and acommunication from said oil supply chamber to said vacuum system wherebythe oil supplied to said system and pump is used again in a continuouscycle.

7 The combination with a Vacuum system of a pump for creating a vacuumtherein, a combined oil separator and exhaust muffler into which saidpump exhausts, said separator being provided on the interior thereofwith a depending partition forming an oil reservoir and scum chamber anda clean oil supply chamber, said separator being in communication withthe atmosphere whereby the oil in said oil reservoir and scum chamber isexposed to a pressure at least as high as atmospheric, and acommunication between said clean oil supply chamber and the vacuumsystem.

In witness whereof I hereto affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

FRANK w. VAN NESS.

l/Vitnesses:

CHAS. L. Gross, FRANK E. DENNETT.

Copies of this patent maybe obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

